Usually something quite unctious or a full-on botrytis-laden-style takes the top sweet wine accolade, but this year the top wine is a fresher, leaner and oh-so elegant example. The sweet nectar from which this wine is crafted is made from 100% riesling grapes that have naturally dehydrated and raisined. The grapes are hand harvested and this wine is not made in every year, making it even more special and rare, much like its namesake.

Sweet Agnes takes its name from the co-founder and matriarch of the family Agnes Seifried. Agnes, the daughter of a Southland sheep farmer, met and fell in love with Austrian winemaker Hermann Seifried and together they planted the region’s first vineyards in 1973. Since then, they have been making wine while raising their three children. It’s a truly family endeavour, inspired by a dream to make wine and the belief that they could do anything together.

Among the results of that dream comes this wine, one that our judges unanimously agreed was a joy to assess. A pale-green colour in the glass with subtle passionfruit aromas alongside lime citrus and jasmine blossom on this complex and beguiling nose. The palate has lovely sweetness balanced against fresh, bright crisp acidity. The palate is long and elegant and altogether moreish.

It seems wholly appropriate that head judge Simon Nunns described this wine as, “A gentle peck on the cheek from the world’s most beautiful woman.” I have no doubt that Hermann feels the same way about his Sweet Agnes.